Groomsday

In years past the focus of a wedding was on the bride — and on the bride only. More recently, however, prospective brides have included the future groom in actively planning the wedding so that his taste and style are reflected as well as that of his bride’s. For instance, many of today’s grooms make their own selection of wedding attire (with the help of a quality formalwear specialist, of course). It’s up to each couple to decide what areas and what roles they’ll play separately, and in which ways they’ll combine their efforts. Deservedly so, the spotlight now shines on the groom as well as on his lady.

Beth asks:“I’m concerned about my husband-to-be forgetting his grooming products at home, on the day of our wedding. I don’t want to insult his intelligence, so what can I do?”

Dear Beth: Be the considerate fiancée and pack a bag of beauty supplies that your groom can use on your wedding day (e.g., shaving cream, skin cleanser, cologne). You can even explain that you have packed one for yourself and one for him.

Keeping Your Expenses in Line

Bob asks:“We’re very careful about staying within our wedding budget, but I’m worried that we’ll inadvertently run over. Can you suggest a way for us to keep track — so that we’ll stay on track?”

Dear Bob: Good for you! Staying within your budget will make after-the-wedding as happy a time as during it. One way to keep tabs on spending is to use a separate credit card for wedding-related expenditures. Some cards give you points toward hotel stays and/or airline mileage, and some even offer cash back, a reward that everyone enjoys!

Readers, do you know other smart ways to keep within your budget? Let me know in the comments box below.

Cutting the [Cheap] Cake

Analise asks:“We’re looking for ways to cut expenses for our wedding reception and considering having a less extravagant dessert. Is there something you can suggest as an alternative to a traditional (and usually expensive) wedding cake?”

Dear Analise: Instead of an elaborate wedding cake, consider having your baker or caterer create a smaller cake "for show" and a sheet cake (much less expensive) to cut up for dessert. Or, as an alternative, you can cut out the big cake and serve another, less expensive dessert, such as cookies or ice cream.

Fun fact:

Did you know that the tradition of having a wedding cake dates back many centuries, as far back as the Roman Empire? HudsonValleyWeddings.com offers a great article called “The Wedding Cake: History, customs and traditions.” It’ll catch you up with the interesting history of this (yummy) focal point in many weddings. Keep in mind that traditions can be molded to suit your particular taste and budget, so use your imagination and ingenuity to come up with something that works for you.

To submit a question to "The Wedding Guru," e-mail it to judy@hvmag.com, or add a comment in the box below.

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About This Blog

Tying the knot shouldn't put knots in your stomach, so whether you're the blushing bride, hubby-to-be, or even a wedding guest, The Wedding Guru Judy Lewis can answer all of your wedding-related questions.

This blog hails from HudsonValleyWeddings.com, the one-stop resource for services and products, promotions and specials, a Regional Bridal Show schedule, Wed Shop, and links to money-saving and wedding-related Web sites.